At some point or another you may have heard of eczema. It is a skin condition in which the skin can become inflamed, cracked, itchy and rough to the touch. It can be extremely painful if left untreated and could even cause blisters.

However, eczema is fairly common with about 1 in every 5 children in the UK and about 10% of the US population being affected by eczema at some stage in their life. It could begin at any age, but often begins during childhood.

So what is it?

A rather complex condition due to the numerous factors that seems to affect the onset, including some environmental factors. Usually a patient will experience alterations in the barrier of the skin, and this will be followed by overly reactive inflammatory and allergic responses. Very often it is a hereditary and runs in the family. Also caused by environmental factors including certain soap detergents and fragrances, smoke, or an infection with bacteria or viruses. Allergens and certain foods have been reported as bringing on the symptoms of this skin condition too.

If the skins natural susceptibility is compromised, the skin could be irritated by substances or particles entering the skin, causing itching and inflammation. On the upside, it is not contagious meaning that you cannot “catch” it from someone else.  Also referred to as atopic dermatitis, which actually is a collection of conditions that involve the immune system, including asthma, hay fever and eczema. It is possible to outgrow the condition, but some have continued to have eczema through adulthood.

What to look out for

Depending on a persons age, eczema can vary in severity. In most instances, its symptoms are mild. The most common symptoms are

• Inflamed, dry or cracked skin

• Itching

• Flushed skin

• Possible open or cracked sores that may seep or bleed

In darker skin tones, an eczema rash may appear grey or brown, and could make it slightly more difficult to notice.

In cases where severe eczema seems likely, you should visit your doctor or dermatologist before an infection of the skin occurs.

Whilst there is currently no cure for atopic dermatitis, you can treat the symptoms in various ways, which may heal the affected skin and prevent flare-ups.  See how below.

How to care for your skin

At home, there are many ways in which you could ease the symptoms of eczema, like taking a lukewarm bath. Try using a milder, more natural soap such as the BWG Botanics Lavender Body Wash and apply a moisturiser soon thereafter to “lock in” the moisture. When finished bathing, rather try patting the skin to lessen the irritation.

Read about The Benefits of Lavender and Lavender Oil here.

You should also try to moisturise every day. We recommend a natural moisturiser, such as our Eucalyptus Skin Refining Body Moisturiser. This moisturiser is cooling and refreshing which could be welcomed relief when applied to dry skin. As all of our products are natural, there are no chemicals which might irritate the skin further.

You could also wear lighter, cooler clothing with breathable fabrics such as cotton. It’s best to avoid rough, scratchy and tight-fitting clothing as this will only aggravate the skin further. Using a humidifier in dry or cold weather conditions could really improve the air quality and should result in less cases where eczema begins.

Of course, if natural assistance is not helping and the condition seems to be getting worse, it is advisable that you visit a doctor immediately, whereby they may prescribe a topical cream or oral medication.